Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) - August 20, 2003
South Africa is perfecting cheaper and more effective HIV tests, according to reports on diagnostic tests presented at the recent First South African Conference on Aids in Durban.
Two reports were delivered on new lab tests that may dramatically improve and speed the diagnosis and response to active TB. Two other presentations were concerned with cutting costs. One related to a potential lower-cost alternative to viral load testing, the other to a procedure that has made CD4 cell testing more widely available in South Africa because it is a third less expensive than the standard test, which can cost anywhere from R150 to R300.
The standard CD4 cell test is pricey because it is performed on an expensive piece of equipment called a flow cytometer. The South African method uses a haematology analyser to measure white blood cells count simply and cheaply. The approach is cheaper and is usually more accurate than the standard test.
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